Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-06
DOGS WHO OWNED HIM.
Stories Showing How They Pos
eessed Their Master"
Old Fop who Ate Fruit--smali Fan With
Big Heart-Norn's Way Of Prving
Up . window-Restlcss Fidget.

Ihaye been owned by a good many
dogs in the course Of my life, and ! am
not little proud Of the fact. They say
1t Is good sign in man when children
and dogs take kindly to him. All dogs
take kindly to me, and look upon 1t as
an Endorsement CT some merit in my
character. The first desire Of every
well-balanced dog is to own man.
Without such possession he is spurned
BY his fellows and despised by small
boys.
An dogs know at once whether a
stranger Of their own race owns man
or not. Whether it is the hang of his
ears and tail, or general negligence
about his personal appeararce. or lack
Of confidence in his general bearing. ]
can not say. but certain it is that all
well-fxed. or ill-fxed, dogs at once de-
tect manless brother bow-wow. Tho
tramp-dog recognizes his fellow tramp
dogs, and consorts with him.
There are dogs who are tramps by
nature, who will never stick to mas
ter; but such cases, i am happy to say,
are very rare--more rare than even
tramp-cats, who. one would think. from
their natural love of warmth and COM
fort, would jump at any kind Of de-
cent home. And yet am personally
acquainted with several tramp-cats, and
Z. very nice. decent cats. too.
/ Some men think they own dogs, and
perhaps few Of them do, but'as gem
eral rule the dog owns the mnn. For
my part, would not care two straws
for dog had to own. Iprefer being
owned, and glory in my servitude.
| The first dog remember who took
possession of me was black and white
4 spaniel, which my father brought home
when l was boy 1t selected me at
once, out of six children, as its master.
and it Glove to me ever after. We chris
tened him Fop He was not a fop.
however, but rather grouty old dog,
with chronic growl which meant
nothing.
have never seen another dog with
that growl. He would grewl and wag
his tail at the same time. He growled
when he was pleased, just as cat
purrs. He was most intelligent dog,
and understood every word said to
him. There was no need Of any motion
Of the hands. or even of the mouth OF
eyes. 1t was notnecessary even to look
at him to make him comprehend.
} He used to be in ecstasies if would
allow him to accompany me in my
walks; but were l going to any place
: where / could not take him, had only
10 say, "Fop, go home," and he would
sink slowly back, looking round every
now and then with the most piteous ex.
preston, in hope of seeing some show
! OF relenting on my part. Then, If did
relent, he would come tearing after me
and whirl himself round and round, like
! q pin-wheel on the Fourth of July.
J Fop was very fond of fruit, and would
make excursions round the garden when
} the gooseberries were ripe and pick
J them off the bushes. In cherry time
used often to climb up the trees to pick
the fruit perhaps no boy ever did such
a thing before), which would throw
down, while Fop kept guard below
He never thought of touching one till
gave him permission, but when l said
"Those are for you, Fop," he would
pounce on the bunch indicated like cal
on mouse, and gobble it up immedi
ateiy.
Fop used to do many wonderful things
l am certain, though forget now whx
they were, for he reigned forty year.
ago He stuck to me faithfully fol
many years. and, know, would never
have given me up. had he not beer
stolen one day in the crowded streets
never saw the poor fellow again.
The next dog, / remember, whc
owned me was King Charles spaniel
which was so small that it could stand
on the palm of my hand. She tool
possession of me; so had to buy hel
for two dollars and half, which was {
pretty good price for dog in those
days. Though her body was small, hel
heart was as big as a lions. She wa:
afraid ofnothing. and would have at
| taNhto al bohSidu IL ~ lsiu tOlnt III ltl
way.
One day saw her run after and furi
ously assail huge Newfoundland dog
big enough to swallow her whole Xix,
an oyster. As soon as the big dog be
came aware that he was attacked, h,
turned round his head, gave one lool
at the tiny aggressor, and then, with
the magnapimity peculiar to dogs
walked ON without taking any further
notice.
Another time took her out to wall
across the fields to place where they
We're building railway bridge over
dixie or ditch about forty feet wide
The roadway of the bridge was no
completed, but single beam of timbe
ran from the top of one bank to TIN
other.
Over this crossed. but my little do,
Fan did not notice it. When she saw
me at the other side, she scampere.
down TO the waters edge, and afte
shifting at it once or twice. plunged il
and swan after me.
: The middle of the stream was file,
with weeds, and in these she became 8
entangled that it seemed to me sh
must inevitably drown. had jus
: made up my mind to jump in after he
: for could no more have seen he
! than human being perish-when sh
| managed to break loose and s,yir